Janette Manrara makes heartbreaking admission about daughter as BBC Strictly star she details career move
Strictly Come Dancing star Janette Manrara has opened up about her fears of leaving her 19-month-old daughter whilst embarking on her next career venture.
The It Takes Two host, 41, expressed concerns about spending time away from her daughter Lyra-Rose, whom she shares with husband Aljaz Skorjanec, 35.
The admission came as Manrara prepares to make her musical theatre debut in a nationwide tour of Chicago, which will see her perform across 20 venues in the UK and Ireland.
Speaking on The One Show, the American dancer revealed the prospect of being away from her daughter during the long contract “scares me a little bit”.
During her appearance on the BBC show, host Roman Kemp asked Manrara if her husband and daughter would be joining her on tour.
“That’s what kind of not worries me but scares me a little bit because it’s a long contract and to be away from her,” Manrara responded.
Fellow presenter Alex Jones noted “It’s the balance isn’t it?”, to which Manrara agreed.
Manrara detailed plans to maintain contact with her family during the tour, with husband Aljaz set to visit multiple venues, including Blackpool.
“Aljaz is going to come to as many venues and cities as he possibly can, Blackpool being one of them,” she explained.
The dancer emphasised her commitment to maximising time with her daughter despite the demanding schedule.
“I’m flying home on days off just to cuddle her as much as I can,” Manrara shared.
She noted that returning to Blackpool would be a different experience, having previously only performed there with Strictly.
During the recent Strictly tour, Manrara revealed it “takes a village” to manage childcare arrangements for Lyra.
The dancer enlisted various family members for support, including her mother and Aljaz’s sister and brother-in-law.
Sharing updates on social media, Manrara expressed gratitude to her sister-in-law Lara and her husband for creating memorable experiences for Lyra.
Aljaz’s parents also stepped in during the final week of shows, with Manrara noting: “All the updates I kept getting from them were constant photos of Lyra smiling.”
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“Knowing Lyra has so much love around even if far away, makes my heart smile,” she added.
Manrara is set to make her musical theatre debut as Roxie Hart in the upcoming Chicago tour.
The production will visit 20 venues across the UK and Ireland, marking a significant milestone in her career.
This new venture follows directly after her completion of the latest Strictly tour.